Device for forming helical coils



Dec. 9, 1947.

C. ANTHONY DEVICE FOR FORMING HELICAL COILS Filed March 1, 1946 INVEN TOR. CHARLES ANTHONY.

- ATTORNEY. I

FIG. 2] L L Patented Dec. 9, 1947 ilNi'iED STATES FA'E'ENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR FORMING HELICAL COILS Charles Anthony, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 1, 1946, Serial No. 651,412

(Cl. 1'53fi7) (Granted under the act of March .3', 1883', as

6 Claims.

This invention relates to spring winding devices and more particularly to devices for fashioning helical springs.

Objec s of the invention are to provide improved manually operable devices for fashioning helical springs of either the tension or the compression tyne; to provide improved devices for fash oning helical springs from lengths of wire in which provision is made for accommodating wire of any desired diameter within the range of the device; to provide improved spring winding devices in which provision is made for varying the diameter of the helix formed and the pitch or spacing between adjacent coils of the helix; and to provide improved spring winding devices of the character described and for the purposes set forth.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational- View, partly in section, of a spring winding device embodying the features of the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the spring winding device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The spring winding device of the present invention comprises a body member I. The latter includes a depending shank 2, adapted to be gripped in a vise or other clamping mechanism to support the device, and a disc-like portion 3", preferably formed integrally with said shank. A series of apertures 4 of varying diameters are formed through said disc-like portion.

The apertures 4 are ada ted to receive cooperating mandrels' 5. Preferably a plurality of such mandrels of varying diameters are provided corresponding to the varying diameters of the apertures 4. In fashioning a spring, a mandrel 5 of diameter equal to the inside diameter of the spring is. chosen and in erted through the aperture 4 of similar diameter.

A circular spacing plate 1: having an outer periphery 6 is rotatably mounted at the center of the disc-like portion 3' of the body member by a means hereinafter described. It will be seen that the inner edges of the apertures 4 are spaced substantially equidistantly externally of the periphery 6 of said spacing plate by a comparatively slight amount. Theperipheral face of the plate thus clears the surface of any mandrel 5 inserted through. its cooperating aperture 4 by a fixed distance.

The thickness of the spacing plate I varies throughout the circumference, the plate 1 provide amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) ing a helical surface tapering circumferentially to a thin-edged leading end portion 8 from a trailing end portion 9- of maximum thickness (Fig. l). The plate 1- is rotatably adjustable to bring the portion of the helical surface thereof of any desired thickness contiguous to the mandrel 5. The portion of plate" F adjacent the mandrel fits between adjacent coils: of a wire l0 being wound about the mandrel to form a spring. A notch H is preferably formed in the edge ofthe plate 1- where the leading endportion 8 and the trailing end. portion- 9 come together. The plate 1 is rotated to aposition inwhich said notch i I is adjacent the mandrel 5- when it is desired to wind a spring in which adjacentcoils; contact each other.

The forward face of. the plate I is adjustably maintained in spaced relation from therearward face of the body I the space therebetween being designated [2 and being adjustable as to thickness to receive wire of desired diameter. An outer bushing I3 is threadedly engaged through a central bore in the disc-like portion 3 of the body member I and the rearward face of said bushing l3 engages the forward face ofthe plate l to retain the latter at. the desired spacing from the rearward face of the body member I.

Wire Ill. to be wound to form a spring may be tensioned by looping it around theexternal pe riphery of the bushing l3. Preferably a pin- I4 protrudes from the rearward face of the body member I about which wire In of relatively fine diameter may be additionally looped to increase the tension therein.

The outer bushing I3 is maintained in adjusted position by a lock nut 15 which preferably has apertures l6 in its periphery to receive a wrench or other suitable tool to be used in adjusting. the

lock nut l5. V

The spacing plate 1 isrotatably supported on a bearing member IT which i's'slightly eccentric and so functions to position the periphery of plate 1 close to the selected mandrel 5. Said bearing member I1 has a rearwardly projecting spindle iii, a forwardly projecting threaded spindle [9, a shoulder 20 anda flange 21, all prefe'ra-bly formed integrally. A lock nut 22, preferably hav ing apertures 23' in its periphery, is threaded-1y engaged with th forwardly projecting spindle" l9;

The spacing plate I has a central portion-24 that is clamped between the flange 2| and the outer bushing l3. The rearward face of the plate l preferably is recessed, as indicated at 2 5, to re ceive said flange 2|.

An inner bushing 28' is thr'ealdedly engaged within the outer bushing I13 and has an axial bore- 2T therethrough and a counter-bored portion 26 at the rearward end. The axial bore 21 receives the forwardly extending spindle I9, hereinbefore referred to, and the counter-bored portion 26 receives the shoulder 20. A lock nut 29 is threadedly engaged with said inner bushing 28 on the portion thereof that extends beyond the outer bushing l3. The setting of the spacing plate I may be varied by loosening the lock nut 22 and rotating the plate 1 without disturbing other settings of the device.

A handwheel 30, preferably knurled or notched, as indicated at 3|, is pinned or otherwise fixedly engaged with the rearwardly extending spindle l8 of the bearing member I1 and has an inwardly extending portion that preferably contacts the rearward face of the flange 2| of said bearing member I! within the recess 25 of the spacing plate 1. The handwheel 30 may be employed to rotate the plate I on loosening of the lock nut 22. Y

Preferably the spacing plate 1 has a rearwardly extendingboss 32 having peripheral apertures 33 to receive a suitable tool for direct adjustment of the plate I when greater force is required than can be imparted through the handwheel 30.

A handle member 34 is provided for the mandrel 5 and has a plurality of apertures 35 for receiving mandrels of any desired diameter. The selected mandrel 5 is secured within the handle member by use of a set screw 36. Preferably the outer end of the handle member 34 has a hand grip 31 rotatably secured thereto.

A diametric notch or groove 38 is preferably formed in the rearward end face of the mandrel 5 for receiving and securing the end of the wire I during the fashioning of a spring therefrom.

The operation of a spring winding device constructed as described is as follows:

A mandrel 5 is selected having a diameter equivalent to the desired inside diameter of the spring to be made and is secured in the appropriate aperture 35 in the handle member 34 and inserted through the appropriate aperture 4 in the body member I.

The lock nut I5 is loosened and the outer bushing I3 is adjusted to set the space 12 equal to the diameter of wire to be employed and said lock nut is then retightened. The lock nut 22 is loosened and the spacing plate 1 is rotated to bring the portion thereof having thickness equivalent to the desired spacing between adjacent coils of the spring contiguous to the mandrel 5.

Wire I is fed into the space l2 and the end thereof fixed in the notch 38 in the end of the mandrel. If desired, the wire I 0, may be additionally looped about the pin l 4.

The handle 34 is rotated, thus rotating the mandrel 5. The wire I 0 is wound therearound to form a helical spring. The edge of the spacing plate passes between adjacent coils and determines their spacing or the pitch of the spring so formed. The winding of the wire I0 on the mandrel feeds the latter through the aperture 4 so that a continuous coiled spring is formed. Since the winding takes place close'to the support, defiection of the mandrel and malformation of the spring is prevented.

The setting of the spacing plate! may be varied during a winding operation, if it is desired to form a spring having portions of different pitch, or if it is desired to form more than one spring during a single operation.

Normally, compression type helical springs have greater pitch than tension type springs. It

is seen that, since pitch may be varied as desired when the device of the present invention is used, it is possible to wind either a compression spring or a tension spring.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of the present invention, it is obvious that the device is subject to modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited by the disclosure set forth, but only by the scope of the claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality of different sized cylindrical apertures extending substantially circumferentially about a center point, a circular spacing plate formed with a single helical surface for determining coil pitch, said plate having a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said helical surface, means for rotatably mounting said spacing plate within the inner circumference defined by said plurality of apertures on said body member and in spaced relation to said body member, said mounting means including a cylindrical portion extending across the space between said body member and said spacing plate, the helical surface on said spacing plate being on the side remote from said body member, said different sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mountingmeans between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably tensioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

2. A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality of different sized cylindrical apertures extending substantially circumferentially about a center point, a circular spacing plate formed with a single helical surface for determining coil pitch, said plate having a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said helical surface, means for rotatably mounting and adjusting said spacing plate within the inner circumference defined by said plurality of apertures on said body member in spaced relation to said body member, said mounting and adjusting means including a cylindrical portion extending across the space between said body member and said spacing plate, the helical surface on said spacing plate being on the side remote from said body member, said difierent sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mounting means between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably tensioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

3. A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality different sized cylindrical apertures extending substantially circumferenti'ally about a center point; a: circular spacing plate formed with a singlehelical surface for determining coilpitch; said plate having a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said helical surface, means for rotatably and eccentrically' mounting and: adjusting said: spacing plate within the inner circumference: definedby said plurality of apertures on said body member and in adjustable spaced relation to said body member; said mounting and; adjusting mearrsiineluding a cylindrical portion emending across the space between said body member and said spaci'ngpl'ate, the helical surface on said spacing'plate being on the side remote from said body member, said different sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mounting means between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably tensioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

4. A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality of different sized cylindrical apertures extending substantially circumferentially about a center point, a circular spacing plate formed with a single helical surface for de termining coil pitch, said plate having a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said helical surface, means for rotatably mounting and adjusting said spacing plate within the inner circumference defined by said plurality of apertures on said body member in spaced relation to said body member, said mounting and adjusting means including a cylindrical portion extending across the space between said body member and said spacing plate, said mounting and adjusting means comprising a spindle extending through substantially said center point through said body member, bushing means adjustably mounted in said body means, the outer end surface of said bushing means providing said cylindrical portion extending to said spacing plate, a spindle extending through said bushing means, an enlarged bearing member integrally formed on said spindle arranged to abut against one end of said bushing means, a nut threaded on said spindle at the other end of said bushing means to lock said spindle in said bushing means, said spacing plate bearing on said bearing and abutting said bushing means, means on said spindle abutting on said spacing plate on the side remote from said bearing means, the helical surface on said spacing plate being on the side remote from said body member, said different sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mounting means between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably tensioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

5, A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality of diiierent sized cylindrical apert'iimzs extencfing substantially circumferentiaI-ly'about acenterpoint, acircular spacing plate formed with a single helicalisurface for determin ing coil pitch; said plate a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said helieal surface, meansfor rotatably and eccentrically mounting and adjusting saidlspaci'ng' plate withiir the inner circumference defined by said plurality of apertures on said body member and in adjustable spaced relation to said body member, said mounting and adjusting means: including: a cylindrical portion extending across the: space be;- UV/786ml said body member and said spacing plate, said mounting: and adiusting means: comprising a spindle extending through: substantially said: certter point through. said body" member; bushing means adjustably mounted in said body means, the outer end surface of said bushing means providing said cylindrical portion extending to said spacing plate, a spindle extending through said bushing means, an enlarged slightly eccentric bearing member integrally formed on said spindle arranged to abut against one end of said bushing means, a nut threaded on said spindle at the other end of said bushing means to lock said spindle in said bushing means, said spacing plate bearing on said eccentric bearing and abutting said bushing means, means on said spindle abutting on said spacing plate on the side remote from said bearing means, and means for controllably V rotating said eccentric bearing of said spindle, the helical surface on said spacing plate being on the side remote from said body member, said different sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mounting means between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably tensioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

6. A device for forming helical coils comprising a body member arranged to be supported and having a plurality of different sized cylindrical apertures extending substantially circumferentially about a center point, a circular spacing plate formed with a single helical surface for determining coil pitch, said plate having a notch between the leading and trailing ends of said hellcal surface, means for rotatable and eccentrically mounting and adjusting said spacing plate within the inner circumference defined by said plurality of apertures on said body member and in adjustable spaced relation to said body member, said mounting and adjusting means including a cylindrical portion extending across the space between said body member and said spacing plate, said mounting and adjusting means comprising a spindle extending through substantially said center point through said body member, bushing means adjustably mounted in said body means, said bushing means consisting of an outer bushing threaded through said body member, an inner bushing threaded through said outer bushing, a nut for locking said outer bushing to said inner bushing, the outer end surface of said bushing means providing said cylindrical portion extending to said spacing plate, a spindle extending through said bushing means, an enlarged slightly eccentric bearing member integrally formed on said spindle arranged to abut against one end of said bushing means, a nut threaded on said 7 spindle at the other end of said bushing means to lock said spindle in said bushing means, said spacing plate bearing on said eccentric bearing and abutting said bushing means, means on said spindle abutting on said spacing plate on the side remote from said bearing means, and means for controllably rotating said eccentric bearing of said spindle, the helical surface on said spacing plate being on the side remote from said body member, said difierent sized apertures each being arranged to selectively receive a suitably sized rotatable cylindrical mandrel to which a wire may be secured and wound thereabout to form a coil, the wire being passed around the cylindrical portion of said mounting means between said spacing plate and said body member to be suitably ten- 8 sioned and through the spacing plate notch to form either a closed coil or, over any selected portion of the helical surface of said spacing plate, to form an open coil of a desired pitch.

5 CHARLES ANTHONY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 10

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

